Te hinonga whaioranga o Hunua kōkako Hunua kōkako recovery project

Kōkako are birds only found in New Zealand. They are under threat from habitat loss and predators like rats, stoats and possums.

In 1994, only one breeding pair of kōkako remained. We set up a pest control programme in the Hunua ranges to allow the birds to breed.

Through the Hunua kōkako recovery project, the population has increased to 106 breeding pairs.

The pest controlled area also provides benefits to other species:

• kākā
• Hochstetter's frogs
• tomtits
• long-tailed bats
• bellbirds.

The Hunua Ranges is part of the North Island Kōkako Recovery Plan, which has a goal to increase North Island kōkako to 1000 pairs by 2020.

The project's success depends on volunteers who assist with pest control.

If you would like to become a volunteer, email the biodiversity team.